Identify the true statement. Choose one: A. The expansion of ice sheets at the end of the Pleistocene caused glacial rebound in northern Canada. B. Regions covered by glacial ice are termed periglacial environments. C. Glaciers move by basal sliding as friction between the ice and its substrate increases. D. The Antarctic ice sheet has been calving off huge icebergs over the last few decades.

Option (D)

Explanation:

Antarctica is located in the south pole and covers a large area of ice-covered region. It is an extremely cold environment, having a low freezing temperature. The glaciers and ice-bergs of this region has been constantly affected due to the increasing global surface temperature. This rise in the surface temperature of the earth is due to the increasing concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere. One of the reasons for this temperature increase is also due to the introduction of the industrial revolution, which is responsible for the emission of a large number of harmful gases, including carbon into the atmosphere. Due to this global climate change, these glaciers are melting at a faster rate, resulting in the rise of the sea level.

Thus, the Antarctic ice sheets have been calving off large pieces of icebergs over the last few decades.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D), which is the true statement.